School of Piping

Thursday, June 5, 2014

The School of Piping Shop is able to supply all of your Piping needs and offer friendly experienced service and advice. We stock only high quality products and have a wide range of reeds, bags, maintenance items, bagpipes, and all accessories in stock. Located in Adelaide, South Australia, we ship anywhere in the world and welcome anyone who wants to drop in for face to face service.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

It is known that drone reeds that are well balanced and well set for strength will stay in tune longer and also be easier to tune. Blowing obviously plays a part in this as well. Many pipers believe that a synchronicity between drones is also possible when they are well set. When they are blown steadily during a performance and are well set they will vibrate in sympathy with each other, staying in tune longer and sometimes returning to unison if going slightly out of tune.

Often hoses, valves and tubes will prevent this. Quite often they can also interfere with micro - managing the individual notes on the chanter or the drone chanter balance whilst playing as well.

This synchronicity has been shown with metronomes when placed on a moveable surface. Energy from the motion of one ticking metronome can affect the motion of
every metronome around it, while the motion of every other metronome
affects the motion of our original metronome right back. All this
inter-metronome "communication" is facilitated by the board, which
serves as an energetic intermediary between all the metronomes that rest
upon its surface. Similarly the vibration of reeds can be effected by the vibration experienced through the bag. In fact our entire instrument vibrates when we play.

The Reed Book DVD-Rom is the most advanced publication available today to demonstrate the methods used to obtain perfect strength and harmonic balance between your reeds. The Complete Pipers Handbook also explains these methods in detail. These two publications are available from the School of Piping Shop.

When we sell drone reeds at the School of Piping Shop we select them for balance between strength and also tone before dispatch. This will help greatly in set up.

While you are there you can download your free issue of the Gone Piping eMagazine.

Monday, July 23, 2012

For many years now I have been using a pressure gauge manometer as a teaching tool. Every piper in our youth band has access to one and all learners are encouraged to use one. They assist in learning good blowing technique and arm control by providing instant feedback. The gauges are highly responsive and unlike a water manometer you get the complete indication of what you are doing wrong as you do it. Our experienced pipers are also encouraged to practice with one from time to time.

The gauge goes further than just indicating unsteady blowing to show as you play any drop or increase in pressure. It is common for many pipers to increase pressure during faster tunes or drop pressure in slower tunes. Also to vary pressure within tunes that they are not confident playing.

The Bagpipe Pressure Gauge is an invaluable tool that will help pipers at any level. We stock them at the School of Piping Shop for just AUD$50.00 + Postage (or AUD$70.00 with a heady duty School of Piping zip up case). Contact us at schoolofpiping@gmail.com to order one or purchase direct from our site at http://www.schoolofpiping.com/shop/beginners_publications.html

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The School of Piping (publishers of The Complete Pipers Handbook) are pleased to announce the arrival of its new maintenance kit bags. This is a nylon zipper bag, designed to fit exactly into the front pocket of a Bagpiper case, measuring 32cm X 14 cm X 6 cm. They fit a wide variety of maintenance items and can be purchased for only AUD$20.

You can fill the kit with a wide range of our products or purchase them as a complete maintenance kit containing: A roll of waxed hemp, a utility knife, a roll of tuning tape, 4 x nylon brushes, 4 x rubber stock stoppers, 3 x drone stoppers, a pull through, Maker's Choice bore oil, Maker's Choice joint lube, a silk swab and a pair of small scissors.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

We have prepared a series of Lessons to accompany the Exercise routine posted on the School of Piping site. The routine is based on scalic exercises and features a repetition of scales like many professional musicians play to build strength and consistency of technique, accuracy with beat and pulse and muscle memory. A great way to rapidly improve your playing, build your playing up before a contest, or just giving your technique a good spring clean!
An article and manuscript is downloadable as well as audio lessons. They can be found on the Audio Lessons page of the School of Piping website by clicking HERE.
We hope you enjoy the routine and find it beneficial. Articles on exercises, good practice habits and performing can be found in The Complete Pipers Handbook, available from the same site.
www.schoolofpiping.com

Saturday, April 21, 2012

VALE DONALD MacPHERSON
We are sad to report the passing of piping legend Donald MacPherson. Aged 89 Donald was one of the most respected and successful figures in the solo piping world.
Donald holds the record for winning nine Clasps at the Northern Meeting. He also won the Senior Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering 15 times, 6 former winners MSR at Inverness, the list goes on and on.
Donald generously passed his knowledge to many students who have also had considerable success in the world solo piping scene. Through them and his many recordings his music will live on.
We pass our sincere condolences to his family, we know he will be sadly missed.

About Me

Brett Tidswell is the Principal of the Australian Pipe Band College, editor and publisher of www.schoolofpiping.com and The Complete Pipers Handbook.
He is Pipe Major of the City of Adelaide Pipe Band and a piper with the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band.